Toilet seat apparatus

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a toilet seat apparatus, comprising: a toilet seat (10), having a front side gradually inclined upward with reference to its rear side, thereby upon placing thereof on a rim of a toilet bowl, forcing a user thereof to squat, thereby pushing the feces of the user upward into his transverse colon, while his left thigh compresses the descending colon, moving feces into the sigmoid colon and therefrom to his rectum.

FIELD

The invention relates to the field of means for relieving constipation and defecation disorders. More particularly, the invention relates to a toilet seat that helps relieve constipation and defecation disorders.

BACKGROUND

Around 15% of the general population has constipation issues. A vast majority suffer from an outlet obstruction type of constipation (ODS). Most such patients respond poorly to standard laxatives therapy and seek other therapeutic options.

Nutrition, diet, and the modern lifestyle contribute to a multitude of gastrointestinal disorders. Once a sign of the problem appears, a domino effect begins to create and intensify other physical problems, mainly as a result of increasing stress to the human body, far beyond the norm. We see this as a constant increase in the number of patients suffering from gastrointestinal problems—mainly constipation and defecation disorders. The treatment given today starts with various medications (laxatives) and may end up in surgical intervention. On the other hand, the toilet seat, which guides and defines body posture during elimination, has not changed since the days of the Romans.

Although there exist partial studies supporting structural changes of toilet seats, none of them have been implemented for product level and therapeutic approach. The existing response focuses on comfortable seating, bathroom aesthetics, and post-movement assistance such as washing, testing the contents of the stool and more.

There are currently no toilet seats differing significantly from the standard structure which are adaptable to an individual patient.

The modern toilet does not require a position of totally squatting, and therefore does not facilitate evacuation of the colon. With chronic constipation, the entire system gets literally backed up from stomach to anus. Thus, the stomach is forced to retain its contents, often leading to reflux, heartburn and poor digestion.

Currently, there is no solution without medication for easing constipation and defecation disorders.

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art.

Other objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a toilet seat apparatus, comprising:

-   -   a toilet seat (10), having a front side gradually inclined         upward with reference to its rear side,     -   thereby upon placing thereof on a rim of a toilet bowl, forcing         a user thereof to squat, thereby pushing user feces upwards into         his transverse colon, while his left thigh compresses the         descending colon, moving feces into the sigmoid colon and         therefrom to his rectum.

Preferably, the inclination of the toilet seat at the center thereof (i.e., between its front end and its rear end) is between 4 and 35 degrees.

Preferably, in the apparatus according to claim 1, the toilet seat (10) is annular, but it can be also in a non-annular form.

The apparatus may further comprise a backrest (11) and means (23) for adjusting and fixing a tilt thereof with reference to the toilet seat.

The apparatus may further comprise a footstool (15), for increasing the squatting effect for a user of the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises adjustable fixation means of the footstool to the toilet seat.

Preferably, the length of each of the legs of the footstool is adjustable.

Preferably, the apparatus is designed to be foldable, for storing thereof in a compact manner, and comprising a handle (18), for allowing to be carried outdoors.

The apparatus may further comprise handholds (20), for allowing a user to grip while sitting on the toilet seat.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is adapted to be placed on an existing toilet seat. Thus, a user does not have to replace the existing toilet seat with his toilet seat, but can be place his toilet seat on the existing toilet seat.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method for adapting a toilet seat to a user, the method comprising the steps of:

-   -   metering physiological characteristics of the user, such as his         weight, the opening of his anus area;     -   selecting from a group of toilet seats a toilet seat that         matches the metered characteristics;     -   refining the selected toilet seat to better correspond to the         characteristics;     -   producing a model of the toilet seat made of expendable         material;     -   using the produced toilet seat by the user for a time period;         and     -   if the user is not satisfied, repeating the previous steps;     -   otherwise producing a model toilet seat made of non-expendable         material.

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a toilet seat apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 3a is a side view of a toilet seat apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3b illustrates the angular form of the toilet seat apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a back view of a toilet seat apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a toilet seat apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a toilet seat according to one embodiment of the invention, which schematically illustrates a use thereof.

FIG. 7 is a back view thereof.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a toilet seat according to a further embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 9a and 9b are, respectively, a side view and a top view of a toilet seat according to yet a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting a toilet seat to a patient's needs, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a table that summarizes a research carried out with the disclosed toilet seat apparatus.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments (“best mode”), which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a toilet seat apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a front view thereof.

The apparatus illustrated in this figure, which is marked herein by reference numeral 100, comprises a toilet seat 10, a backrest 11, and padding 12.

The feature that characterizes the illustrated toilet seat apparatus from the prior art is the angular form of the toilet seat 10, which is lifted at its front side.

FIG. 3a is a side view of a toilet seat apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3b illustrates the angular form of the toilet seat apparatus.

The character F denotes the front side of the toilet seat apparatus, the character B denotes the rear side thereof, and the character C denotes the center thereof.

FIG. 3b illustrates a measurement of the inclination angle of the seat at about the center of the seat. The inclination angle at the center is 8 degrees. At the front side the inclination angle is about 20 degrees, and at the rear side the inclination angle is about 3 degrees.

FIG. 4 is a back view of a toilet seat apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

From this perspective, it is seen that the front side of the toilet seat is higher than its rear side.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a toilet seat apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention.

In this figure is also shown the toilet bowl 14, on which the toilet seat 10 is placed.

An additional accessory illustrated in this figure is a footstool 15. The footstool may be connected to the toilet seat 10, or a separate entity, as illustrated in this figure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a toilet seat according to one embodiment of the invention, which schematically illustrates a use thereof.

FIG. 7 is a back view thereof.

The angular form of the seat causes the user 16 thereof to increase his squatting effect while sitting on the toilet seat. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the user's position on the toilet seat resembles squatting. As a result, the opening of his anus area 17 is increased, which brings the user to a more physiological posture during defecation. Placing his feet on the footstool 15 increases this effect.

The upper side of the toilet seat on which the user's hip stands can be designed for providing a more convenient sitting position on it, and more particularly, to increase the dispersal area of each of the hips on the toilet seat.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a toilet seat according to a further embodiment of the invention.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the stool 15 is pivotally connected to the toilet seat 10 by hinges 21 and telescopic pole 19.

Additionally, toilet seat 10 comprises depressions 20, for use as handles when a user sits on the toilet seat. Actually, the depression is a handhold, allowing a user to grip while sitting on the toilet seat.

Rod 23, which may be telescopic, is used for fixing the backrest 11 to the toilet seat 10 at a desired angle.

Preferably, the legs of the footstool 15 are adjustable, thereby allowing adjusting the footstool height according to a user needs.

The entire apparatus, which includes the toilet seat 10, the backrest 11 and the footstool 15, can be carried by handle 18.

An additional feature that can be used is a heated toilet seat. Thus, the seat is designed to comprise heating means.

An additional feature that can be used is a deformable seat, such as made of spongy material, water pillow, and so on. This kind of seat adjusts itself to the shape of the hips of the user thereof.

Each of FIGS. 9a and 9b is a side view of a toilet seat according to yet a further embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9a is a side view thereof, and FIG. 9b is a top view thereof.

According to this embodiment of the invention, the entire assembly, which includes the toilet seat 10, its backrest 11, and a foldable stool 15, are foldable, and as a result the toilet seat is mobile.

The folded apparatus can be placed into a bag or case, and carried with a user when traveling. Thus, the use of the toilet seat apparatus is not limited to a certain place, but can be used anywhere, at work, in a hotel, and so on.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method for adjusting a toilet seat to a patient's needs, according to one embodiment of the invention.

The method is based on using physiological data of a patient, which may be used for correlating a toilet seat to a user's needs. For example, the physical dimensions of the patient's body, the disorder he suffers from, his squatting ability, etc.

Once this information is obtained, a pre-defined seat may be selected for the patient.

Then, the pre-defined toilet seat may be adapted to correspond to the patient's needs.

Accordingly, a “reduced” model of the required toilet seat is produced, i.e., a temporary toilet seat, which may be made from materials that will allow testing its adaptation to the individual patient.

If the adaption is satisfactory, then the toilet seat may be produced; otherwise, the process may be repeated.

The production can be carried out, for example, by 3D printing. Presently 3D printing may produce products from a variety of materials, each having its own characteristics, such as toughness, flexibility, softness, smoothness, etc.

Research

A study of the disclosed toilet seat design included two months, one month of using a standard seat and the second month, a specially designed seat with a stool chosen in a random manner. Consecutive patients suffering from the ODS type of constipation underwent a comprehensive workup.

All patients fulfilled the Rome 3 criteria for either Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) or constipation predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (C-IBS) at recruitment. All patients completed a daily symptom questionnaire. SCL 90, PAC-QOL, IBS-QOL questionnaires at recruitment, then at one month and two months in assessment of response to the toilet seat. Physiological studies performed during the patients' assessments, before recruitment, included high resolution anorectal manometry with balloon expulsion test, dynamic proctography and dynamic pelvic ultrasound.

The results were as follows: 17 consecutive patients (8 women, median age 53 years) were recruited for the study. Checking the clinical response to the study toilet seat compared to the control seat did not show any statistically significant differences; however, there was a constant advantage to the study seat of 20% in all parameters examined (FIG. 11). This trend also remained stable when splitting the results to the two main clinical groups of CIC (more pronounced in bowel frequency/week, 10.7 vs. 7.1) and C-IBS (more pronounced in Bristol stool scale, 4.1 vs. 2.9). Physiological assessment created two main groups of functional defecation disorder (FDD Pelvic floor dysynergy/anismus) and combined FDD and organic defecation disorder (mainly rectocele). The trend for advantage to the study seat was also retained in these groups. For FDD, this was true especially for bowel movement frequency (8.3 vs. 4.7) and toilet sitting duration (7.82 min vs. 10.35 min)

The conclusions were as follows: Although the design has dramatically changed, no inconvenience has been noted while using the study seat in comparison with the regular control seat.

In this group of constipated patients suffering from ODS, the study toilet seat showed a consistent advantage over the “control” standard seat. Differences did not reach statistical significance, probably due to a small sample group (type 2 error). Larger cohort studies are required and may enable us to determine the role of specially designed toilet seat in changing the defecation dynamics.

Based on these preliminary results using this new approach, the potential entailed in the use of 3D laser printers, a personalized toilet seat, taking into account the individual antropometric parameters, is the next requested forward step.

This information was reported by Yishai Ron, the director of Neurogastroenterology & Motility Unit, of the Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, of the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel.

In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals (Reference Signs List) have been mentioned:

-   -   numeral 100 denotes a toilet seat apparatus;     -   numeral 10 denotes a toilet seat;     -   numeral 11 denotes a backrest;     -   numeral 12 denotes a padding of backrest 11;     -   numeral 13 denotes a pivotal connector for connecting backrest         11 to toilet seat 10;     -   numeral 14 denotes a toilet bowl;     -   numeral 15 denotes a footstool;     -   numeral 16 denotes a toilet user;     -   numeral 17 denotes the anus area of a user;     -   numeral 18 denotes a carrying handle;     -   numeral 19 denotes a telescopic pole;     -   numeral 20 denotes a handhold;     -   numeral 21 denotes a pivotal connector;     -   numeral 22 denotes a footstool leg;     -   numeral 22′ denotes a footstool leg in an unfolded state;     -   numeral 22″ denotes a footstool leg in a folded state; and     -   numeral 23 denotes a rod for fixing an inclination of the         backrest 11 to the toilet seat 10.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should to be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof. These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet seat apparatus, comprising: a toilet seat (10), having a front side gradually inclined upward with reference to its rear side, thereby upon placing thereof on a rim of a toilet bowl, enforcing a user thereof to squat, thereby pushing the feces of the user upwards into his transverse colon, while his left thigh compresses the descending colon, moving feces into the sigmoid colon and therefrom to his rectum.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inclination of said toilet seat at a center thereof is between 4 and 35 degrees.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said toilet seat (10) is annular.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a backrest (11).
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a backrest (11) and means (23) for adjusting and fixing a tilt thereof with reference to said toilet seat.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a footstool (15), for increasing a squatting position of a user of said apparatus.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said footstool (15) further comprising adjustable fixation means of said footstool to said toilet seat.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a length of each of said footstool legs is adjustable.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, designed to be foldable, for storing thereof in a compact manner, and comprising a handle (18), for allowing to be carried outdoors.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising handholds (20), for allowing a user to grip while sitting on said toilet seat.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further adapted to be placed on an existing toilet seat.
 12. A method for adapting a toilet seat to a user, the method comprising the steps of: metering physiological characteristics of said user; selecting from a group of toilet seats a toilet seat that matches the metered characteristics; refining the selected toilet seat to better correspond to said characteristics; producing a model of the toilet seat made of expendable material; using the produced toilet seat by said user for a time period; and if said user is not satisfied, repeating the previous steps; otherwise producing a model toilet seat made of non-expendable material. 